Boat propelling means



Sept. 7, 1937. I I l. S. KIVELLY'EY' r 2,0 ,7

BOAT PROPELLING MEANS Filed Nov. 5-1955 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV NTOR jsaaali Kelley ATTORNEY P 1937- I. s. KELLEY I 2,092,736

BOAT P BQ1E[ELLING MEANS Filed Nov. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR Patented Sept. 7, 1937 BOAT PROPELLING} MEANS Isaiah S. Kelley, New York, N. Y.; Mary E. Kelley administratrix of Isaiah S. Kelley, deceased Application November 5, 1935, Serial No. 48,302

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' 7 Claims.

-Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are: To provide improved means for propelling boats and the like; to utilize such means towards the rear or aft of a life boat, row boat and/or other boats which may be manually operated; to be enabled to operate the propelling means within the boat itself therefore not requiring the utilization of cars as heretofore; to provide other means for manually applying a brake to the operating means; to be enabled to reverse the direction of movement of the boat; to control the movement of the boat at difierent speeds; to operate the improved means by utilization of one or more personsito operate the pro- 5 pelling means at all times when in use by two strokes, forwardly and backwardly; to centralize the working mechanism in one place so as not to interfere with the receiving, seating and discharge of passengers; to utilize minimum space without hindering operation; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan, view of the rear part of a boat and showing my improved propelling means;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the operating mechanism shown as taken on line 22' of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a plan of the operating mechanism and brake operating means;

7 Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the brake operating means shown as taken on line 44 of Figure 2; V v I Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the driving or rowing bar utilized to obtain a forward and backward pull for manually operating the propelling means, shown as taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1; V

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the pulling mech-' anism shown as taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

person.

Description:

As will be seen from the drawings, the inven-' distress, and much Valuable time is lost afterlaunching in properly placing oarsmen to row the boat away from the scene of distress. Many hazards are encountered by this method especial- Figure 7 is a plan showing my invention as ap-; plied to a small boat to be operated by a single ly during the seating of passengers, and often times interference with the oarsmen is encountered, thereby causing upsetting of the boat due to the panicky condition of persons getting in each others way. It is during periods of distress that the interference with safely rowing the boat is met. With my improved propelling means I have found it advantageous to centralize the propelling means to the rear or aft of a boat, thereby leaving the part foreward of the propel- 10 ling means free and clear for the seating of passengers, and further free of any necessity for the use of cars. Further, this invention is an improvement over the showing made in my copending application for Boat propelling means,

Serial No. 468,553 filed October 27, 1933.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a portion of a boat l0 preferably the rear or aft. According to the present invention this boat is to be actuated in the Water by means of a propeller ll shown at the stern on the outside of the boat and of course below the water line. A propeller shaft l2 extends from the propeller inwardly through the wall of the boat and is maintained freely rotatable in the usual stufiing box I3 which functions to maintain a substantially watertight entry for said shaft into the boat. As here shown the forward end of shaft l2 has one member of a universal coupling l4 thereon, the other member of said coupling being upon a horizontally disposed shaft 15. Adjacent to said shaft I5 is provided a peripherally grooved drum or fly-wheel l6 suitably coupled with the said shaft l5 for causing the shaft to rotate under influence of the rotation 5 of the drum. The coupling preferably includes forward, reverse and vari-speed gearconnections which will hereinafter be more fully described. The drum is intended to revolve continuously in one direction under influence of energy applied by the operators, who for convenience, may be referred to as the oarsmen.

Thwarts or cross-seats I1, I! are provided near the stern of the boat for the oarsmen, thereby leaving the middle and forward part of the boat clear for passengers or others. The operating means to which the oarsmens energy is directly applied is positioned between the two thwarts so that the oarsmen face each other while at work. Furthermore, the present showing contemplates several oarsmen to each thwart, who may work in unison orat random as found desirable. In the specific illustration in Figure 1, it is intended that there be three oarsmen on each thwart, for

which reason three mechanisms are shown, but description of one alone will suffice.

The operating mechanism comprises, in each instance, a stub shaft 18 carried in brackets l9, IS in turn mounted on the floor or false bottom 28 of the boat. Said stub shaft extends in a direction cross-wise of the boat midway between the thwarts IT, IT and at an elevation considerably below the thwarts. At the midpart of this stub shaft are two ratchet wheels 2|, 2! mounted upon said shaft coaxially therewith and rotatable thereupon independent of each other. In actual practice these ratchet wheels are intended to rotate in directions one opposite to the other.

- Furthermore, on said shaft I8 are two swinging arms 22, 22, each arranged between one of the ratchet wheels and one of the brackets 9. The swinging arms are rotatably mounted on the said shaft which therefore constitutes the fulcrum or center of oscillation for each arm. The upper ends of the arms are preferably connected with respect to each other by means of a cross-bar 23. This cross-bar is parallel to the stub shaft l8 and constitutes a suitable hand grip for grasping by the oarsmen and by which the said arms 22, 22 may be simultaneously swung or oscillated back and forth. From each arm depends a pawl 24 into engagement with the ratchet teeth on the periphery of the ratchet wheel next adjacent to that particular arm. The direction in which the ratchets face and in which the pawls depend for operating upon the ratchets is reverse in one ratchet wheel to the positions of those parts in the other ratchet wheel. Consequently, oscillation of the arms in one direction functions to actuate one of the ratchet wheels while at the same time the pawl on the second ratchet wheel merely slides over the teeth. Then, oscillation of the arms in reverse direction causes the pawl of the first mentioned arm to slide over the teeth of its wheel while the second pawl operatively engages its wheel to actuate the same.

The ratchet wheels 2|, 2! at a lower segment, preferably project downwardly through the floor or false bottom 29 of the boat as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. Said ratchet wheels likewise are each preferably provided next the series of ratchet teeth with a peripheral groove 25. From each such groove extends a continuous cable 26 preferably of non-corrosive steel of ample strength and appropriate flexibility, said cable passing rearwardly and around drum or flywheel IS in one of the grooves thereof so that each ratchet wheel is thus coupled rotatively with the fly wheel or drum. The application of the cables to the several ratchet wheels is made properly so that each ratchet wheel turns in the proper direction under influence of the fly wheel and cable and so that actuation of each ratchet wheel by its pawl will tend to rotate the fly wheel in the same direction as all the other ratchet wheels tend to rotate it in operation of the arms and pawls.

In as much as the present showing contemplates three actuating mechanisms, there will be, as a result, six ratchet wheels and therefore will be six cables which will thus require six parallel peripheral grooves in the fly wheel. It may now be noted likewise that the several stub shafts I8 are arranged substantially in alinement axially and if so desired the operating cross-bar 23 for all three mechanisms may be connected at their adjacent ends so that all the oarsmen will operate in unison. This, however, is not compulsory in the present showing, by virtue of couplings 21 releasably connecting the said adjacent ends of the cross-bars. By releasing both couplings, the three mechanisms can be actuated at random by the pair of operators or oarsmen for each. In event it is desired to employ two of the mechanisms, and operate them in unison, the two adjacent cross-bars can be coupled and the third one uncoupled. Where only one is to be operated, the same is preferably uncoupled from the others, thus lessening the amount of energy required for operation. Where less than all mechanisms are being operated, the ones not being operated may have their cables 26 loosened by suitable means, such as by unhooking a sheave 28, thereby again decreasing energy required for propelling the boat.

As shown in Figure 2 shaft l 5 and drum l6 are preferably below the floor or false bottom 20 in the boat and thus enables the officer in charge to stand in the stern for directing the oarsmen and otherwise controlling the boat.

The operative connection between the drum or flywheel It and shaft 15 is effected by the following arrangement. The drum [6 is placed in a horizontal position, and is rotatably mounted upon a vertical axle 29 with appropriate intervening ball bearings, and if desired a supporting annular race of ball bearings 39 under the drum near its periphery. The upper face of the drum 1% is provided with an annular rack 3| next the periphery of the drum, and which for convenience will be referred to as the high speed gear, and closer to the center of the drum, also on the upper face thereof is a smaller annular rack 32 which in use constitutes both a low speed gear and a reverse gear. It will be understood that both of these annular racks or gears 35 and 32 are concentric with respect to each other and with respect to the axle 29. The larger or outer rack 3i may be conveniently placed at a higher elevation than the inner or smaller rack 32.

Shaft 25 is disposed immediately above drum l6 and in a direction diametric with respect to the said drum. Upon this shaft I5 is slidably mounted a sleeve 33, said sleeve and shaft being splined as by a long key 34, so that the shaft and sleeve must rotate simultaneously but without interference with the aforementioned sliding relationship of those parts. Furthermore, in the present showing, the said sleeve is provided with three pinions, 35, 36 and 3'! respectively. Pinion 3? is next the end of the sleeve and is in the vicinity of the middle of the drum. It is intended to mesh when desired, with the inner rack 32. The next pinion 36 is of the same size as pinion 3i and likewise can be brought into mesh with said inner rack 32, but said pinions 36 and 37 are spaced apart a distance less than the inner diameter of the small rack so that only one pinion can be meshed with the rack at any one time. One pinion is intended to mesh with the rack at one side of the center whereas when the other pinion is brought to mesh it does so at the other side of the center of the rack. As a consequence, the shaft l5 may be rotated either to propel the boat forwardly or rearwardly without having to reverse direction of rotation of the drum. The next pinion in sequence, namely, pinion 35, is of smaller diameter than the other two so it cannot mesh with the inner rack 32, but can be brought into mesh with the larger rack 3!. At the time such meshing of pinion 35 and rack 3! takes place neither of the other pinions 35 or 31 are in position to mesh with smaller rack 32, which at that time is between the ,two larger pinions. The smaller rack is for high speed propulsion forwardly, and the next adjacent large pinion 36 is for low speed propulsion forwardly, whereas the end pinion 31 is for reverse propulsion.

In order to slide sleeve 33 for engaging the desired pinion and rack, I have shown one end thereof projecting beyond the periphery of the drum and as having a peripheral groove 38 therein which receives opposed alined pintles 39 projecting inwardly from the arms of a Y-shaped yoke MI. The lower legs of this yoke 40 are fast with respect to a rocker shaft 4! which in turn has, at one end, a crank :32 secured thereto. The crank extends upwardly and has a pin 43 projecting outwardly therefrom parallel to rocker shaft 4|. This pin is received in a socket 44 forming part of an operating lever 45 which stands upwardly to project through the floor or false bottom 2!! for control by the officer in charge. This lever is preferably mounted at its lower end as by a ball and socket fulcrum 46 so as to have swinging movement in any direction desired, that is to say, either forward and aft or cross-wise of the boat. It is the movement forward and aft which influences pin 43 and obtains a shifting of the pinions 35, Stand 31. The movement of the lever cross-wise of the boat is for a purpose next to be described.

Swinging of the lever 45 cross-wise of the boat, and for convenience referred to as lateral swinging, is for purposes of both releasing the lever from a locked position to permit it to come to another position and be locked thereat, and also to apply brake action to the drum while the pinions are being shifted so as to avoid stripping the pinions or racks. In carrying out this feature I have shown the lever 45 projecting through a plate or housing 4? in the floor 2B; This plate has a slot 48 extending forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the boat of sufficient length to permit the lever to be swung far enough to slide the pinions through the several stages necessary for obtaining-high speed meshing, low speed meshing and reverse meshing, with an intermediate stage between high and low when none of the pinions mesh, namely, neutral. The slot 48 also is made wide enough at the several positions of the lever for high, neutral, low or reverse, to permit a lateral movement of the lever. That is to say, one side of the slot has a notch to receive the lever when swung laterally thereinto for each of the several positions of the lever, but to pass the lever from one notch to the other said lever has to be swung laterally into the main channel of the slot. Parallel to this main channel of the slot is a pressure bar 49 normally pressed toward the slot by a leaf spring or other means 50. This pressure bar 49 is conveniently carried within a channel for that purpose formed as part of plate 41 and is maintained operatively therein by appropriate slot and pin connections 5|, 5| next its ends. This pressure bar 49 bears against the side of the lever and consequently moves sidewise whenever the lever is moved laterally.

On the same side of the pressure bar 49 as leaf spring 50 in the present showing is provided a crank arm 52 having a friction reducing wheel 53 in engagement with said pressure bar. The other end of crank arm 52 is fast upon a rotatable rod 54 which in turn passes by the periphery of drum IS. A pairof brake band tensioning arms 55 are carried upon this rod 54, said arms extending to the end of a brake band 56 and drawing said band toward the drum each time the pressure bar 49 is swung in a direction away from the notches in slot 48. It will be understood the other end of brake band 56 is carried upon a fixed mounting 5] and at the face of the brake band next the drum is provided with suitable brake lining 58 to engage the drum when the brake band is tensioned.

Referring now to Figure 7, I have shown my propelling means in a slightly modified form and as adapted for use in small row-boats. In this connection there is shown a fragment of such a boat id preferably the rear or aft thereof, said part having a propeller II projecting from the stern and below the water line as heretofore described in the preceding figures. Said propeller has a shaft 112' connecting to the drum or fly wheel l6. Directly forward of the drum or flywheel I have provided a single operating mechanism as a pair of ratchet wheels 2|, 2| which may be actuated as heretofore and which may form a part of the cross-bar 23. The ratchet wheels also in this case have peripheral grooves 25, 25 around which the cables 26 are mounted and connect with the drum or fly-wheel Hi. This particular construction does not require all the'detail mechanisms utilized for operating the propeller as inmy previously described construction, since it can be easily operated by one person who in this case can be seated on the false bottom 20 or on the crossseat or thwart H.

In operation the person sitting on the false bottom 25) or thwart Il pulls on the cross-bar 23 when the cross-bar is further away from him, and pushes when the cross-bar is close to him. When pulling or pushing the cross-bar the ratchet wheels are oscillated, which in turn set in motion the cable 2% connecting said ratchet wheels with the drum or fly-wheel l8. This provides for a continuous actuation of the drum and the propeller by virtue of the shaft l2. Since no shifting of gears for different speeds'or reverse are provided, the direction of movement of the boat will be usually forward, and the operator may, if so desiring, relax at will whenever it is desired to have the boat travel at a lower speed.

Referring again to my preferred construction as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, it is to be understood that boats of this nature are fully equipped to meet the Government requirements.

In addition to which I have found that it is desirable that the boat l9 may very conveniently be provided with a cover such as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 346,558 filed April 3, 1933. With this cover, the passengers will be fully protected from adverse weather conditions as well as heavy seas. Further, with the installation of my improved collapsible mast disclosed, in co-pending application Serial No. 346,515, filed April 3, 1933, distress signals or other signals may be conveniently transmitted through the utilization of a generator (not shown) suitably placed adjacent the drum or fly wheel l6.

Obviously, detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of my improved boat propelling means without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction or operation, shown or described except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a boat propelling apparatus, a driven shaft, a drum operable continuously in one direction, said drum having a plurality of horizontal peripheral grooves, a large and a small rack on the top of said drum, said driven shaft having a plurality of speed pinions adapted to engage said racks depending on propelling speed required, means for shifting the pinions into and out of engagement with said racks, said means providing other means for stopping rotation of the drum.

2. In a boat propelling apparatus, a driven shaft, a drum operable continuously in one direction, said drum having a plurality of horizontal peripheral grooves, a large and a small rack on the top of said drum, said driven shaft having a plurality of speed pinions adapted to engage said racks depending on propelling speed required, means for shifting the pinions into and out of engagement with said racks, said means providing other means for stopping rotation of the drum, a pair of ratchet Wheels having a pair of reversely operating ratchets, a cross-bar mounted to said ratchet wheels, said cross-bar having a pair of pawls in engagement with the ratchet teeth for actuating the wheels, and connecting cables from the ratchet wheels to the drum for actuating said drum.

3. In a boat propelling apparatus, a driven shaft, a drum operable continuously in one direction, said drum having a plurality of horizontal peripheral grooves, a large and a small rack on the top of said drum, said driven shaft having a plurality of speed pinions adapted to engage said racks depending on propelling speed required, a lever for shifting the pinions into and out of engagement with said racks, said lever providing means for stopping rotation of the drum, a pair of ratchet wheels having a pair of reversely operating ratchets, a cross-bar mounted to said ratchet wheels, said cross-bar having a pair of pawls in engagement with the ratchet teeth for actuating the wheels, and connecting cables from the ratchet wheels to the drum for actuating said drum.

4. In a boat propelling apparatus, a propeller, a driven shaft for operating said propeller, a drum operable continuously in one direction for operating said shaft and'propeller, said drum having a plurality of horizontally disposed peripheral grooves, racks on the top of the drum thereof, said driven shaft adjacent the end opposite to the propeller having a plurality of spaced pinions for engaging with the said racks on the drum thereby connecting the drum to said shaft for operating the propeller in either direction, a pair of vertically disposed ratchet wheels providing oscillatory means for actuating said ratchet wheels, said ratchet wheels having peripheral grooves, and cables in said grooves extending to the grooves in the said drum and cooperating therewith for actuating the drum thereby operating the driven shaft and propeller.

5. In a boat propelling apparatus, a propeller, a driven shaft for operating said propeller, a

drum operable continuously in one direction for operating said shaft and propeller, said drum having a plurality of horizontally disposed peripheral grooves, racks on the top of the drum thereof, said driven shaft adjacent the end opposite to the propeller having a plurality of spaced pinions for engaging with the said racks on the drum thereby connecting the drum to said shaft for operating the propeller in either direction, a pair of vertically disposed ratchet Wheels providing oscillatory means for actuating said ratchet wheels, said ratchet wheels having peripheral grooves, and cables in said grooves extending to the grooves in the said drum and cooperating therewith for actuating the drum thereby operating the driven shaft and propeller, and means independent of the operating parts whereby one or more of said cables can be disengaged from operating the drum, driven shaft and propeller.

6. In a boat propelling apparatus, a propeller, a driven shaft for operating said propeller, a drum operable continuously in one direction for operating said shaft and propeller, said drum having a plurality of horizontally disposed peripheral grooves, racks on the top of the drum thereof, said driven shaft adjacent the end opposite to the propeller having a plurality of spaced pinions for engaging with the said racks on the drum thereby connecting the drum to said shaft for operating the propeller in either direction, a pair of vertically disposed ratchet wheels providing oscillatory means for actuating said ratchet wheels, said ratchet wheels having peripheral grooves, and cables in said grooves extending to the grooves in the said drum and cooperating therewith for actuating the drum thereby operating the driven shaft and propeller, and means for stopping the drum against rotation.

7. In a boat propelling apparatus, a propeller, a driven shaft for operating said propeller, a drum operable continuously in one direction for operating said shaft and propeller, said drum having a plurality of horizontally disposed peripheral grooves, racks on the top of the drum thereof, said driven shaft adjacent the end opposite to the propeller having a plurality of spaced pinions for engaging with the said racks on the drum thereby connecting the drum to said shaft for operating the propeller in either direction, a pair of vertically disposed ratchet wheels providing oscillatory means for actuating said ratchet wheels, said ratchet wheels having peripheral grooves, and cables in said grooves extending to the grooves in the said drum and cooperating therewith for actuating the drum thereby operating the driven shaft and propeller, means for shifting the pinions into and out of engagement with the said racks, and said means providing other means for stopping rotation of the drum.

ISAIAH S. KELLEY. 

